Mount Cook Airlines was started by Henry "Harry" Rodolph Wigley, a former RNZAF WW2 fighter pilot and Wing Commander, who postwar built up his father's Mount Cook Group and began ski-plane operations in 1955 in the South Island of New Zealand. Little did they expect that their venture would grow into New Zealand's 3rd airline and continue its pioneering services into the 2010s. The aircraft that really put Mount Cook on the map, however was the sturdy HS 748.

The HS-748 would prove to be one of the most successful postwar British aircraft produced, selling around the world to both national airlines and smaller operators alike who needed a rugged dependable aircraft. These characteristics would be taken to their limits within India which saw in the 748 just the aircraft it needed for both military and civil operations.

Initially following BEA's purchase of 30% of BKS operations continued much as before though no doubt without the annoyance of BEA complaining about new services going BKS' way. This wasn't to last however and gradually despite growing successfully BKS was subsumed to BEA's needs. Eventually it became one of the four major components that would constitute the new unified British national carrier.

BKS was begun by James Barnaby, Thomas Keegan and Cyril Stevens, initially as Aerocharter but soon it took up the initials of its founders as BKS Aerocharter Ltd. Unlike a host of British independents BKS was able to navigate the treacherous waters of the time. It became one of the most successful and pioneering British airlines of the initial postwar era, operating both charters and an impressive scheduled network from its northeastern bases at Leeds and Newcastle.

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I'm Richard Stretton: a fan of classic airliners and airlines who enjoys exploring their history through my collection of die-cast airliners. If you enjoy the site please donate whatever you can to help keep it running: